Town News Briefing

November 12, 2004

WINDSOR LOCKS

Youth Groups Collect

Food From Residents

WINDSOR LOCKS -- The annual Windsor Locks food drive will take place on Nov. 20. Residents are asked to place a bag of nonperishable food on their porch for Scout organizations and other youth groups between 8:30 a.m. and noon.

The food will be used to replenish the local human services' food pantry at town hall and to provide holiday food baskets for Windsor Locks families that need assistance. Special bags will be passed out door to door on Saturday, but any bag will do.

The November food drive is a long-standing event sponsored by the youth of Windsor Locks and the Windsor Locks Lions Club.

FARMINGTON

Woman Faces

Credit Card Charges

FARMINGTON -- A Windsor Locks woman faces a host of credit card and identity theft charges after allegedly using a stolen credit card number to make a purchase, police said.

Jennifer Dukes, 22, of 29 Coolidge St., was charged Thursday with fifth-degree larceny, credit card theft, illegal use of a credit card, criminal impersonation, third-degree identity theft, third-degree forgery and a host of conspiracy charges. She allegedly received the stolen credit card number from another person who used to work in a department store at Westfarms mall.

She then used that number to make a purchase, police said. But instead of signing the name of the person who owned the credit account, she signed her own name, police said. Realizing her mistake, she then crossed out her name and signed the victim's name, police said.

She was released on a $2,500 bond for a court appearance Nov. 16 in Hartford.

TOLLAND

Patrols Being Increased

In Conservation Area

TOLLAND -- The resident state trooper's office is stepping up patrols on the Shafron Conservation Area to curb vandalism and other problems, officials said.

Kennedy, members of the local group Conserving Tolland, Town Manager Tim Tieperman, and representatives of Connecticut Water Co. met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the problems. Members of Conserving Tolland have reported people using ATVs on the trails, which destroys the land and causes erosion, Kennedy said. Conserving Tolland members also have reported campfires and small parties involving alcohol, Kennedy said.

Kennedy plans to assign two police officers to the property on mountain bike patrol in the next couple of weeks, he said. He also hopes to get a trooper out there on an ATV.

TOLLAND

Education Group

Plans Fund-Raiser

TOLLAND -- The Tolland Education Foundation, in partnership with the Tolland Recreation Department, is holding its inaugural fund-raiser at Crandall's Lodge Saturday from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that relies on private contributions to fund academic programs in Tolland schools in addition to the curriculum. The foundation announced itself earlier this school year and has received three grant applications from teachers and staff seeking to fund new projects, foundation members said.

There will be a silent auction at the event. Tickets cost $50 a person.

For more information, call foundation Secretary Robert Stewart at 860-871-8015 Ext. 102 or email the foundation at TollandEdF@aol.com.

The money will come from the FIRE Act of 2000, a law written by U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd and co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, according to a press release from the United States Senate.

"We can and should do much more to protect families from the devastating effects of fire, and firefighters deserve to have the resources to provide that security," Dodd states in the release.

Said Lieberman: "We depend on Connecticut firefighters for our safety. Surely they should be able to depend upon us for support."

Two other Connecticut fire departments also will receive grants: the Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 will receive $77,950, and the Warren Volunteer Fire Company will receive $35,011.

Since the FIRE Act was enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed 216 grants in Connecticut worth more than $19.9 million.

ELLINGTON

Tree Ceremony At

Inaugural Winterfest

ELLINGTON -- Two children will be picked to help Santa Claus light the town's Christmas tree during Ellington's very first Winterfest.

Parents are invited to drop their children's names into a special box at Hall Memorial Library on Main Street for the drawing. Just before Thanksgiving, two children will be surprised with the honor of helping Santa light the tree on the town green, near the library, and the tree and lights that will be featured on the Ellington town green with the gazebo.